Shining Star

Another game has been struck down from the Hall of Shame - Phantasy Star 4.

During the sixteen-bit era (largely regarded by some as the Golden Age of Gaming), whilst Nintendo had Final Fantasy, Sega had Phantasy Star. At that time, I had heard of both but it didn't go further beyond the names. It's ironic considering that Final Fantasy, of course, would go on to become inescapable - but what of the other camp?

Well having played PS4, I have to say I was impressed. I didn't know the Megadrive/Genesis for having any RPGs but this was indeed a treat. It was well presented, the plot was compelling, the characters likable, the whole thing was well-written.
There are signs this game was a labor of love and it shows: The graphics were gorgeous to say the least - I particularly enjoyed how the plot was conveyed through comic-strip style imagery. The combat was great and well thought out. Also pleasing is how the writers really worked hard to wrap up everything that had come in the previous Phantasy Star - even throwing in more than a few allusions - and bring the series to an excellent resolution.
And special mention must go to the music: I have a problem with Megadrive soundtracks in that they tend to date rather horribly but the music to Phantasy Star 4 - along with Golden Axe 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog - still holds up pretty well some seventeen years later.

It's not to say PS4 was without it's quibbles: The leveling up happened so quickly the challenge died away (indeed, I defeated the last boss on my first try!) - which is a bit odd as the Phantasy Star series has enjoyed a fearsome reputation of being one of the most the difficult RPGs ever made. And the encounter rate was stupidly high that traveling the worlds was a slow and annoying process.

Still, I enjoyed Phantasy Star 4 - and it is indeed admirable that it ended the way it did in an age where franchises are run into the ground (not least of which is PS's formal rival).
And so I come away with this game being not only is it the best of the series but both one of the Megadrive's finest moments and one of the best RPGs of it's era.
Good enough reason for it to stand tall with it's head held high.